Thomas Dale Downs L.C. Bird 32-21

Thomas Dale moved to 9-0 on the year after dispatching rival L.C.Bird 32-21 to claim "The Battle of Chester" for the fifth time in six seasons. Junior signal-caller Ethan Minter led the Knights to victory, as the junior threw for 108 yards and two scores. On the ground, Minter rushed for an additional 128 yards and two more touchdowns.

The Skyhawks defense forced the Knights to punt on the opening drive of the game. However, Thomas Dale's defense forced an L.C. Bird turnover when CJ Milazzo picked off Jashaun Amin to give the Knights excellent field position.

A few plays later, Minter called his own number on the 45-yard touchdown run to put Thomas Dale up 6-0. Nic Tyree converted the two-point conversion to make the score 8-0.

Thomas Dale would make the score 11-0 after Amr Ibdah connected on a 37-yard field goal attempt with 3.3 remaining in the first period. The Knights held Bird to zero first downs in the first quarter of play.

The Skyhawks began to get things rolling in the second quarter. Jashaun Amin found Rashad Lewis in the back of the endzone to complete the 17-yard touchdown play (Kick Hernandez) to cut the lead to four. However, Thomas Dale would respond when Minter hit Brandon Rose on a 22-yard touchdown pass with 2:39 remaining in the half to make the score 18-7 (Kick Ibdah) in favor of the visitors.

L.C. Bird would come out of the break and trim the lead back to four after a two-yard touchdown run by Amin (Kick Hernandez). Both defenses shut down the other's offense the next few drives of the quarter.

Knights linebacker Brandan Cammarasana came up with a huge fumble recovery to give Thomas Dale excellent field position late in the third. With 50.4 seconds remaining, Minter tossed a 27-yard touchdown pass to Jacob Seaborne (Kick Ibdah)

The Knights would add another score with 9:24 remaining in the contest. Minter broke loose on 4th and long and scored on a 23-yard scamper (Kick Ibdah) to make the score 32-14. L.C. Bird scored their final touchdown of the day when quarterback Will Hendrickson launched a 40-yard bomb to Jashaun Amin (Kick Hernandez).

Next up, Thomas Dale (9-0) heads to Dinwiddie (9-0) for a clash of two unbeaten Central District foes. The winner will claim district title bragging rights and potentially the #1 seed in their respective regional playoffs. L.C. Bird (6-3) will host Clover Hill (2-7) and will look to lock up the #3 seed in Region 5C.

IMPACT PLAYERS

Thomas Dale

Ethan Minter - 11 carries 128 yards 2 TDs; 6/14 108 yards 2 TDs

Brandon Rose - 17 carries 50 yards; 2 receptions 39 yards TD

CJ Milazzo - 9 tackles INT

Zakarai Sands - 14 tackles

Brandon Cammarasana - 8 tackles fumble recovery

L.C. Bird

Jashaun Amin - 1/6 17 yards TD INT; 3 carries 4 yards TD

Alvin Townes-Fox - 23 carries 100 yards

Will Hendrickson - 1/1 40 yards TD

La'Tavion Lowe - 14 carries 82 yards

Rashad Lewis - 1 reception 17 yards TD